Calls for [South African] nationalisation need to be debated, not dismissed – by Mark Cutifani (Business Day – July 13, 2011)

Business Day is South Africa’s most influential and respected daily newspaper, offering incisive coverage of business, politics, labour and other current affairs, written by the country’s top journalists.

Mark Cutifani is CEO of AngloGold Ashanti and vice-president of the South African Chamber of Mines.

HAVING worked in SA for only four years, I am always reticent to comment on the country’s internal affairs, as I am aware that I do not have a full understanding of local history. However, I do have some sense of what has worked in the economic frameworks of the 30 or so countries in which I have worked and developed new businesses. Where SA is concerned, I remain a great optimist about its future due to the desire in its people to create a truly democratic and egalitarian society.

In this context, the nationalisation issue is troubling, given the polarising nature of the discourse, which is having a divisive effect on our society as we scream and talk past each other. The nature of the debate is frightening domestic and international investors, threatening an important resource of funds needed to deliver on our 5-million jobs target.

We will not deal with these issues through business simply by shouting louder than the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League. Young people are justified in calling for broad social change. The logic behind the call for nationalisation needs to be sensibly debated rather than angrily dismissed. However, only a balanced debate comparing the available options will help us find the right pathway to broad economic liberation.

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CBC NEWS: In Depth – Rare earth metals (July 7, 2011)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/

A look at 17 chemical elements vital for gadgets of today, green technologies of tomorrow

What are they?

Rare earth elements, or REEs, are a group of 16 metals (or 17 if scandium is included) that share particular chemical and physical properties that make them indispensable to the manufacture of countless electronics, appliances, green technologies, weapons and medical devices. They are valued for their properties of luminescence, thermal and electrical conductivity, magnetism and ability to act as catalysts and polishing compounds.

They are considered vital not just for the many gadgets of today, such as cellphones, computers, stereos, flat-screen TVs and MRI machines but, perhaps more importantly, for the green technologies that many expect will define our future. They are a key component of manufacturers’ efforts to produce more efficient, less-polluting versions of their products, such as cars and light bulbs, and of the global fight to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

One of the areas where REEs have made the greatest contribution is in the miniaturization of magnets used in the motors and generators that power electronics, electric cars and wind turbines. REE alloys reduce the weight of such magnets by up to 90 per cent and allow them to function at high temperatures.

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Mining company, (Constance Lake) First Nation leadership end dispute – by Leith Dunick (tbnewswatch.com)

www.tbnewswatch.com

Aubrey Eveleigh, president and CEO of Zenyatta Ventures Ltd., points out an area of dispute, known as the Albanry Project. The company on Monday finalized an agreement with Constance Lake First Nation that will allow the junior mining firm’s exploration plans to go ahead. Prestige Limousine

A Thunder Bay-based junior mining company’s three-month dispute with Constance Lake First Nation is over. Aubrey Eveleigh, president and CEO of Zenyatta Ventures, said the agreement was finalized on Monday, a deal which will give his company the right to proceed with the Albany Project, a claim staked about 45 kilometres west of Hearst.

In return they’ve made concessions to the First Nation community of 1,400, including preferential consideration for job opportunities and contributions to a fund to benefit Constance Lake’s elders and youth.

“We’re quite happy that it’s over with now and we’re both moving forward to help explore in the area known as the Albany Project,” Eveleigh said.

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Symbol of Ontario legislative authority goes on a summer vacation to the James Bay coast

This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province.

The ceremonial Mace from the Ontario Legislature, which is adorned with two diamonds from De Beers Canada’s Victor Mine near Attawapiskat, went on a summer vacation earlier this month.  This symbol of authority at Queen’s Park made its first trip outside the Legislature since 1867 and toured the Victor Mine and communities on the James Bay coast. 

The first and second diamonds mined, cut and polished in Ontario, which were donated by De Beers Canada, were encrusted in the Mace when it was refurbished in 2009.  Accompanying the Mace on its rare summer vacation were Speaker of the Ontario Legislature Steve Peters, his Sergeant-at-Arms, Queen’s Park officials and the local MPP for Timmins-James Bay Gilles Bisson.

“Visiting the Victor Mine was an excellent opportunity to bring the diamonds, which grace the Ontario Legislature’s Mace, back to the people who mined them and the First Nations whose lands the diamonds came from,” said Mr. Peters, who also served as Ontario’s Minister of Labour from 2005 to 2007.  “The health and safety practiced by De Beers is commendable and something every organization and company should aspire to attain.”  

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What would change if employees owned ONR? – by John R. Hunt (North Bay Nugget – July 19, 2011)

The North Bay Nugget, established in 1907, is the daily newspaper for the northeastern Ontario community of North Bay.

What is wrong with the ONR? Ask this question anywhere in Northern Ontario and you will likely get at least a dozen answers. Ask it in Southern Ontario and you will discover no one has ever heard of the ONR and few give a hoot about Northern Ontario.

The current furor over the ONR repair shops losing a contract to a non-unionized Quebec outfit deserves much more fundamental thinking than it is getting.

The McGuinty mob is being pilloried because it did not intervene to protect the ONR. No one has pointed out how McGuinty and company would be excoriated if GO Train passengers discovered they had to pay extra so that North Bay jobs were protected. At the same time in this rough, tough and brutal world, no one asks the ONR why it is not more competitive?

The Nugget ripped the Band-Aid off a sore point when it revealed the ONTC is comprised of a gaggle of health care bureaucrats and educators. It also has a retired cop presumably charged with keeping them safe from outraged citizens.

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[Timmins] Miners dig deal – by Kristine MacDougall (Timmins Daily Press – July 20, 2011)

The Daily Press is the newspaper of record for the city of Timmins

Goldcorp, Xstrata Copper finalize partnership agreement

A new partnership agreement between Xstrata Copper and Goldcorp is providing a sustainable future for both operations in Timmins. “We’ve been working on this agreement for over a year, and to finally see it be signed is a great accomplishment,” said David Yaschyshyn, Xstrata Copper’s superintendent of environment and industrial Hygiene.

“It truly is a win-win for both operations.” The announcement came Tuesday morning at Goldcorp’s Hoyle Pond Mine Site, just east of the met site property in Hoyle Township.

“We’ve secured a long-term supply of tailings for the paste filling operations at the Kidd Mine for its life. As well as being able to secure a supply of rock for our construction activities at the Kidd Concentrator site,” said Yaschyshyn.

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Movie looks at Timmins’ first 100 years Movie looks at Timmins’ first 100 years – by Kristine MacDougall (Timmins Daily Press – July 20, 2011)

The Daily Press is the newspaper of record for the city of Timmins.

The history of Timmins is coming to the big screen.

Timmins: The first 100 is an independently produced film about the city’s rich history. “It struck me about three or four months ago that we’re having the 100th year celebrations and there was no film,” said producer Kevin Vincent.

The 90-minute movie provides a look at life in the Porcupine Camp, the men and women who fought their way into the camp in search of gold, and the devastating 1911 fire. It also chronicles the bitter labour battles, the folklore of hotel life, Timmins rich multicultural heritage, and Timmins highgrading industry, and related crime, as a result of gold mining in the area.

Work and research for the movie was compiled over the last two and a half decades.

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